BERMUDA Maritime Museum Director Edward Harris has been ranked by Columbia University as one of its top 250 alumni.

The list was compiled as part of celebrations honouring the school's 250th anniversary, with consideration given to the achievements of anyone who ? even briefly ? attended the Ivy League institution since it was founded in 1754.

Dr. Harris, a 1971 graduate, is in good company. Others who made the grade include Nobel Prize winner Robert Merton; leading executive in the modelling industry, Eileen Ford; pre-eminent contemporary classical musician, John Corigliano and, one of today's most controversial political and social commentators, David Horowitz.

The director was ranked at 130 in the list, published in instalments as a countdown building to the name of the top alum, next month.

The list was compiled by the university's daily newspaper, which said of the director: "A pioneer in his field, Harris is memorialised as an archaeologist through the name of the standard methodology for organising data from archaeological digs: the Harris Matrix.

"The matrix, which Harris developed as his doctoral thesis in 1973, allows scientists to order the artefacts and events of a particular site by date. A native of Bermuda, Harris spent much of his life in England and was decorated by Queen Elizabeth II in 1999."

Based in New York, Columbia University was founded in 1754 as King's College. Closed during the Revolutionary War, it reopened seven years later having christened itself Columbia.

"The 250-year history of the university is best told through the eyes of the people who 'actually are Columbians'," said Columbia 250 chief operating officer, Ember Dietz. "To that end (has embarked on) a year-long project: a ranking, from number 250 to number 1, of the 250 greatest Columbians through the ages.

"The list includes both graduates and dropouts from all four of the university's undergraduate colleges. Included are politicians and revolutionaries, authors, inventors, and more than a few athletes ? anyone who had a lasting influence on his or her chosen field. The project will culminate with the selection of the single most influential alum in May."

The was founded in 1877 and has been independent since 1962.